Libya Names U.S. Beauty Contestant as Consul

TRIPOLI (Reuters) - Libya, which has been trying to thaw relations with Washington, has given a U.S. beauty contestant citizenship and named her as honorary consul to the United States.

The Libyan news agency Jana said on Tuesday Libya had named Tecca Zendik, a U.S. citizen who lives in the United States, to the post at an official ceremony in Tripoli on Sunday at which she was also granted citizenship and a Libyan passport.

"Libya was convinced Zendik would play an effective role in the service of relations with the United States," it quoted a Foreign Ministry spokesman as saying at the ceremony.

Libya under Muammar Gaddafi remains on the U.S. list of states that sponsor terrorism and rapprochement has proved elusive despite its improving relations with Britain and other European countries.

Zendik went to Tripoli in November as the U.S. contestant in a beauty pageant, Miss Net World, whose winner -- British model Lucy Layton -- was chosen by votes via the Internet.

At Sunday's ceremony Zendik pledged to work for peace, telling Libyan officials that she and many Americans oppose wars and yearn for friendly links with other peoples, Jana said.

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